Lock operating means



July v H. VOGES, 2,006,374

' LOCK OPERATING MEANS Filed-Ap'ril 15, 1954 1A a 1 4 W W,

r I INVENTORJ Patented July 2, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Herman W. Voges, Springfield, Mass.

Application April 13,1934, Serial No. 720,429

20 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in look operating means.

The principal objects of the invention are directed to the provision of an unlocking device.

According to the invention an actuating member of a lock receives a series of certain impulses from the unlocking device so that the bolt of the lock is released.

According to a special feature of the invention I by the provision of a novel combination and arrangement of parts, all as will more fully hereinafter appear in connection with the accompanying description of the present preferred form of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the lock operating mechanism of the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevational view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one Y. of the key members of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the guide member .of the device.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the forward end of the propeller. I

Fig. 6 is a side elevationalview of an end portion of the guide with the forward portion of the propeller associated therewith.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged plan view of the end portion of the guide'with the forward end of the propeller associated therewith.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view showing a plurality of keys. g

Fig. 9 is an elevational view to show how the cap may be registered with the body,'and

Fig. 10 is asmall scale plan view ofthe operating device associated with a lock. v

Referring now to the drawing in detail the invention will be fully. described.

I will first describe a lock mechanism embodying certain novel features of the invention and while the description refers particularly to a padlock, it will be understoodthat this is for purposes of description merely' and'that the broad features of the invention maywell be embodied in looks of allkinds. The parts to be described in con- (01. 9) nection with the lock are shown in the drawing in their bolt-locking position.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a padlock having a cas ing 2 which is hollowed out and in the interior thereof are disposed the principal features of the novel lock mechanism. A shackle 4 has a side member 6 which is slidable in the casing. The lower end of the member 6 extends into the interior of the casing as shown while an arm or side member 8 is receivable in a suitable-socket provided in the casing when the shackle is in the locked-position shown.

The notches 26 of the different tumblers may be spaced at different distances or angles from their respective shoulders 32. In this respect, the tumblers may be different from one another. This is because it may be necessary to. oscillate the tumblers more or less relative toone another in order to bring the notches intoiposition to receive the lug 22 of the bolt l2. These tumblers are moved counterclockwise by novel means, which will presently be described, to bring the notches thereof into an unlocking position wherein they receive the lug of bolt [2. As each of the tumblers is moved counterclockwise to bring its notch in position to receive the lug of the lever .IZ, it is held in that position by its respective pawl 34.

A pilot 52 is ,oscillatable and reciproo'able in the casing and is associated with a body 53 which car'- ries an arm 56. A guide 54 has its upper end se-' cured in the casing and its lower end is slidably received in a suitable bore of the body as shown so; the pilot 50, body 53 and arm 56 may move back and forthand oscillate as well.

The arm 56 associated with the bodyin the position shown in Fig. 1 has its outer end extend ing to the right of the body so that its extremity is adjacent the member [2, and clear. of the tumblers.

The lock operating or unlocking device of the invention as shown in the drawing preferably resembles a fountain pen in shape and size. so that it may be conveniently carried in the pocket.

An inner barrel Ill and an outer cap 12 are arranged for sliding movements. As the cap is. moved on the barrel a plunger 14 extending from the outer end of the barrel, and which has already been referred to, is caused by mechanism associated with the cap and barrel to move outwardly and provide the impulses or strokes imparted to the pilot of the lock for actuating the unlocking mechanism thereof.

Thebarrel preferably includes a head end 16, a body 18 which is bored out longitudinally to receive a guide member 99 and has radial slots extending longitudinally thereof terminating adjacent its ends for receiving keys 80 (see Fig. 2). An outer tube 80 overlies the keys.

The cap 72 is closed at its outer right-hand end and its inner left-hand end slides on the barrel. A collar 82 is associated with the sleeve 80 which limits the rearward movement of the cap relative to the barrel.

The keys 80 as shown in Figs. 3 and 8 comprise a body portion 84 and flange portion 86, the former being receivable in the slots provided in the part I8 while the latter portions lie against the periphery of the part I8 and are inside the shell 89'. The keys have one or more spaced projections or cams 85, and as shown in Fig. 8, the cams on one key may be differently arranged than on another, all for the purpose which will later appear.

The guide 90 is slidable in the barrel and the pilot I4 previously referred to extends forwardly therefrom and is arranged for reciprocating movements in the outer end of the part/I6. This guide is bored out so as to be tubular in form and has lower and upper longitudinally extendrel. The part 32 associated with the barrel acts in conjunction with a shoulder interiorly of the cap, to. limit the-separating movements of the barrel and cap, as shown in Fig. l.

A- relatively thin tongue I08 is provided on the forward endof the propeller which is slidable in the slots92 and 94 of the guide so that as the cap is turned on the barrel the guide is turned therewith. Aprong I I is provided on the upper side of the propeller adjacent its forward ends which has inclined forward and rear faces H2 and H6. The main body of the propeller I02 is relatively wider or thicker than the tongue part I08 thereof so as to provide shoulders H4 extending transversely or up and down on either side thereof, just behind the tip of. prong III]. "A recess I I8 within the barrel at its right hand or inner end has an inclined surface, as shown, against which the surface II6 of the propeller may abut. The parts are shown in Fig. lwith withthe propeller to urge the outer end of thepropeller .upwardlyat all times.

As has been explained, the plunger I4 is inserted in 'the pilot bore with the outermost end of the barrel resting against the. casing of the lock (see. Fig. 10). Pressure of the plunger -14 to, the pilot and associated parts is the initial. movement or impulse for actuating the unlock- IIIlof the propeller I02 coacts ing mechanism of the lock. Further successive impulses or movements of the plunger with the end of the barrel against the lock casing are produced as the cap is moved forwardly of the barrel.

As the cap is moved forwardly to move the propeller I02 forwardly, the shoulder IIA of the propeller brings up against the shoulder 96 nearest the rear end of the guide 90 (see Figs. 6 and 7). The guide 80, from which extends plunger I4, is propelled or moved forwardly by the propeller until the forward face II2 of the propeller prong III) engages the innermost cam 85 of the key 80.

As the'face of the prong brings up against the cam ofthe key, the cam causes the end of the propeller to'be depressed or swung downwardly so that the shoulder II4 of the propeller is disengaged from the shoulder 96 of the guide 913. This allows the guide and plunger to be moved inwardly bymeans of spring I disposed in a recess 'I'l around the plunger M in the-forward endcf the barrel.

After the freeend of the'propeller is moved downwardly by the key and 'while pressure is being appliedto the cap thefree end of; the propeller is caused to move again upwardly at the other side of the cam 85 bythe spring I20.

,The shoulder II4is-then behind the next adjacent shoulder lit-of the guide 90 so the propeller again propels the guide Continued pressure onthe capcarries the end :of the propeller towards the next key so thatit is again disengaged from the guide whereupon the guide jumps back and the shoulder of the propeller engages a successive :shoulderof the guide.

In the manner described, by pressing on the cap the guide and. plunger are given successive forward movements or impulses. When the prong I III. of l the propeller has passed the last cam in the key, the forwardshoulder I05 of the cap brings up against the'inner or rear end of the guide so that theguide and plunger are moved by the cap for its final impulse or-stroke.

It-will be observed that asthe cap is moved forwardly of the barrel by endwise pressure when the endof the barrel rests against the lock casing, the plunger is caused to move outwardly andi returned accordingly as the propeller engages the guide and is released therefrom,-

The different distances through which the guide and plunger are moved by thepropeller corresponds to the different distances: between the cams of the key. The distance between the cams of alkey may bevaried'within wide limits so that the plunger may be caused. to make atrain of strokes wherein the strokes are of different lengths. *Asthecap is moved forwardly of thebarrel the plunger is caused to make any desired number ofsti'okes'or impulses'depending on the number of cams on the key.

The keys as shown in Fig. 8 have the cams arranged thereon in different Ways to provide trains of impulses varying widely in nature and there may be anydesired number of keys employed. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2 there are 8, the lowermost key being omitted in Fig. l for clearness. The 'key shown in Fig. l is adapted for use in connection with the lock, mechanism described. Where there are a number of locks, the locks may require for actuating their respective locking mechanisms a train of impulses which vary. from one anotherand the unlocking devicemayhave a. plurality of keys capable of producing the proper trains ,of impulses for each of the locks.

The cap may be rotatedonthe barrel to bring 1 the propeller into alignment with any certain key so'thata certain train of impulses may be selected for a certain lock, The barrel may car ry a plurality of characters "H while the cap has an indicating means such as an arrow 13 for registering with the characters. This makes it possible to'locate the cap so the propeller will act in conjunction with a selected key to produce a train of impulses of predetermined relative lengths and number.

While I have described the invention in great detail and with respect to a preferred form thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereto since many changes and modifications may bemade thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.- What it is desired to claim and secure byLetters Patent of the United I States is: i

l. A device for operating unlocking mechanism of a lock comprising in combination, relatively movable members, a plunger movable relative to one of said members and means associated with said members for moving said plunger through 1 member and a relatively reciprocable cap member, a plunger member reciprocable in said barrel. member, and means associated with said members operable as the cap member and barrel member are relatively reciprocated to reciprocate said plunger through a series of reciprocations.

l. A device for operating unlocking mechanism' of a lock comprising in combination, a barrel member and a relatively reciprocable'cap member, a plunger member extending from and re ciprocable in said barrel member, and means associated with said membersfoperable as the cap member and barrel member are relatively. reciprocated to reciprocate said plunger through a plurality of series of reciprocations.

5. A device for operating unlocking mechanism of a lock comprising in combination, a barrel member, a cap member reciprocable and rotatable on the barrel member, a plunger member reciprocable in said barrel member, means associated with said members operable as the cap and barrel'members are reciprocated relative to one another'to reciprocate said plunger through a pluralityof series of reciprocations, and means to facilitate the selection of one of the plurality of series of reciprocations.

6. A device for operating unlocking mechanism of a lock comprising in combination, a barrel and a relatively reciprocable cap, a plunger slidable' in said barrel, releasable engaging means asso-I ciated with said cap and plunger adapted as the cap is reciprocated relative to the plunger to bring about reciprocation of the plunger by the cap in one direction, means to reciprocate the plunger in an opposite direction, and means to bring about disengagement of said engaging means so'the plunger is reciprocated by the cap reciprocations; e 7. A device for operating unlocking mechanism of a lock comprising in combination, a barrel, a

cap reciprocable relativethereto, aplunger-reciprocable in said barrel, releasable engaging means associated with said cap and plunger whereby. the latter is reciprocated by the former in one direction, means to reciprocate the plunger in an opposite direction,-disengaging means including a pluralityof devices spaced around said and saidjlast-named means through a series of barrel adaptedas the cap is reciprocated to disengage said disengagingmeans more than once during one reciprocation of said cap whereby the plunger is actuated through a series of recip rocating movements. l

8. A device for operating unlocking mechanism of a lock comprising in combination, a barrel, a

cap reciprocable relative thereto, a plunger. re- '20 ciprocable in said barrel, spring means to I'GCiIJIO",

cate said plunger in one direction, releasable engaging means associated with said cap and plunger, disengaging means including a plurality of devices spaced around said barrel adapted as the cap is reciprocated to disengage said engaging means ,more than once during one reciprocation of said cap whereby the plunger is actuated through a series of reciprocating movements, and the said cap being oscillatable to facilitate the selection of certain of saiddevices.

9. A device for operating unlocking mechanism of a lock comprising in combination, a barrel, a cap reciprocable relative thereto, a plunger reciprocable in said barrel, a guide-associated With 9 said plungena propeller associated with said cap, releasable engaging parts associated with said propeller and guide whereby the latter is propelled I in one direction by the former, means to propel the guide in an opposite direction, and means to engage and disengage said parts as the cap is reciprocatedon the; barrelwhereby the plunger is propelled through a series of reciprocations.

10. A device for operating unlocking mechanism of a lock comprising in combination, a barrel, a cap reciprocable relative thereto, a plunger reciprocable in said barrel, a spring urging said plunger inwardly of said barrel, a guide associated with said Jplunger having a plurality of longitudinal spaced shoulders, a propeller associated with said-cap having a: shoulder normally engaging, a shoulder ofsaidguide, a key having spaced parts to disengage said shoulders as the cap is reciprocated relative to said barrel whereby the plunger is caused to make a series of outward reciprocations. v 3

'11.'A device for operating unlocking mechanism of a lock comprising in combination, a barrel, a cap reciprocable relative thereto, a

plunger reciprocable in-said barrel, a spring urgassociated with said plunger having a plurality of spaced shoulders, a propeller associated with said cap having a shoulder to engage said shoulders, a-plurality of keys each having parts spaced longitudinallyof. said barrel to disengage said shoulders as the cap is reciprocated relative to ing said'plunger inwardly of said barrel, a guide 6 said'barrel whereby the plungerzis caused to make a series of outwardreciprocations, the said cap being oscillatable on the barrel to facilitate alignment of the shoulders with any one of said keys selected whereby'a certain series of reciprocations may be l2. A device for operating unlocking mechanism of a lock comprising in combination, a

plunger, a support in which the plungeris movnism of a lock coinprisin'gin combination, a relatively reciproeable barrel'member and cap'memher, a plunger reciprocable relative to said members, a springurging'the plunger inwardly of said barrel, engage'a-ble means associated with said plunger and one of said' members andreleasing means whereby said plunger is alternately reciprocated and released as said members are reciprocated relative to one another.

14, A device for unlocking mechanism of a lock comprising in combination, relatively reciprocable members, means to urge the plunger in one. direction relative to said one member, releasable engaging means associated. with-the other member and said-plunger whereby the plunger is reciprocated bysaidothe-r member as it is reciprocated relative to'the saidone member in a direction opposite to said one direction, and releasing means actingon'the engaging means during said reciprocationof sa idother member to release the same-a plurality of times wherebythe plunger'is causedto reciprocate aplurality of times in opposite-'di'rections.

l5. Anunlockin'g device for a lock mechanism comprising-in combination, a barrel, a cap reciprocable' thereon'fa plunger unit reciprocable in the barrel having an en'd'at the outer end of the barrel and provided with engageable parts spaced therealong within thebarrel, a propeller in said cap havin'g apart to" releasably engage the en- 'ga'geable' parts" of said unit whereby the end thereof is movedoutwardly from the barrel when the cap is moved forwardly of the barrel, a key in the barrel havinglongitudinally'spaced projcctions'engageableby'the' propellerto release the, engaged parts of the-propeller and plunger unit,

and a spring urging said plungeru-nit'inwardly of the barrel, all adapted andarranged whereby as the cap is reciprocate'd forwardly of the barrel the end of theplunger unit is'caused to reciprocate outwardly and inwardly'a plurality of times.-

16. An unlocking device for a lock mechanism comprising in combination, a barrel, a cap reciprocable and rotatable thereon, a plunger unit reciprocable in the barrel having an end at the outer end of the barrel and provided with engageable parts spaced therealong within the barrel, ,a'propeller in said cap having a part toreleasably engage theen'gageable parts of said unit whereby the-end thereof is'moved outwardly from the barrel when'the cap ismoved forwardly of the barrel, a plurality of keys in the barrel each having longitudinally spaced projections in the path of the propeller to release the engaged'parts of propeller and unit, and a spring urging said guide inwardly of the barrel, all adapted and'arranged whereby 'as the cap is reciprocated forwardlyof the barrel the end of the plunger unit is caused to reciprocate outwardly and inwardly a plurality "of times whilethe'said cap may be rotated to bring'the projections of anyone of the keys into the path of the propeller.

1'7. An "unlocking device for a lock mechanism f comprising in combination, abarrel, a cap reciprocable thereon, a plunger unit reciprocable in the barrel having a plungerend portion projecting therefrom and a guide portion therein, a plurality of spaced shoulders on said guide, a propeller movable relative to theguide having a shoulder for engaging the shoulders of said guide to propel said guide and plunger, a key in said barrel having spaced projections engageable by said propeller and cooperating therewith to disengage said shoulders as the cap reciprocated forwardly of the barrel, pivotal connections between said cap and propeller whereby the latter may move relative'to the former and a spring acting onthe propeller to cause it to engage the shoulder thereof with the shoulders of the guide.

18. An unlocking device for a lock mechanism comprising in combination, a barrel, a cap recipr'ocable thereon, a plunger unit reciprocable in the barrel having a plunger end portion projecting therefrom and a guide portion therein, a piuralityof spaced shoulders on said guide, a propeller movable relative to the guide having a shoulder for engaging the shoulders of said guide to propel guide and plunger, pivotal connections between said cap and propeller, and a key in said barrel having spaced projections engageable by said propeller and co-operating there with to disengage said shoulders as the cap is reciprocated forwardly of the barrel, the said guide being tube-like in form receiving the end of the propeller and the said shoulders being formed in a wall thereof.

19. An unlocking device for a look mechanism comprising in combinationa barrel, a key therein having longitudinally spaced projections, a plunger extending "outwardly from the forward end of the barrel and reciprocable therein, a spring urging said plunger inwardly of the barrel, a

guide fixed to the plunger reciprocable in thebarrel having a longitudinal slot, shoulders spaced along said slot, a cap reciprocable on the barrel, a propeller movable on the cap having its forward endin said slot, a projection on the forward end of the propeller and engageable with the projections of saidkey and a shoulder at the forward end of the propeller engageable with the shoulders of the guide.

20. An unlocking device for a lock mechanism comprising in combinatioma barrel, a plunger reciprocable in the endoi the barrel, a guide fixed to the plunger reciprocable in the barrel, a spring urging the plunger inwardly of the barrel, a cap reciprocable on the barrel, a propeller hinged at its outer end to the outer end of the cap and.

disposed therein, the said guide provided with a longitudinal slot and shoulders spaced therealong, the inner end of the propeller disposed in said slot provided with a shoulder engageable with the shoulders of the guide and a prong for engaging the projections of a key, a spring acting on the propeller to position the same so the prong thereof projects outside said slot, and a spring urging the cap rearwardly of the barrel, and a key in said barrel having longitudinally spaced prov jections en ageable by the prong of the propeller to depress the same and disengage the shoulders of said propeller and guide.

HERMAN w. VOGES. 

